[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 176 (Monday, September 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56220-56221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23162]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWR-PWRO-0322-7019; 2031-A038-409]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan 
for Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National 
Monument, Counties of Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/General Management Plan for Golden Gate National Recreation 
Area and Muir Woods National Monument.

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SUMMARY: In accord with Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, and pursuant to the Council on Environmental 
Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-08), the National Park Service 
has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the 
updating the General Management Plan (GMP) for Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area and Muir Woods National Monument. The Draft EIS/GMP 
evaluates four alternatives for managing Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area and Muir Woods, and upon approval the GMP would serve 
as a blueprint to guide management of these units of the National Park 
System over the next 15-20 years.
    Background: Established in 1972 to bring ``parks to the people'', 
until now Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) has been 
operating under its first GMP, approved in 1980. During the 30 years 
since the GMP was approved, GGNRA has doubled in size, visitation now 
approaches 16 million annually. The management staff has gained a 
better understanding of the natural and cultural resources of the park 
and the many recreational uses that occur within the park areas. Muir 
Woods was declared a national monument in 1908 and is currently managed 
as part of GGNRA.
    Public scoping was initiated in the spring of 2006. The Notice of 
Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on March 
29, 2006. Five public scoping meetings were held in the area; 
approximately 300 participants overall provided relevant information 
which was duly considered in preparing preliminary alternatives. The 
preliminary alternatives were initially reviewed with the public at 
meetings held in June, 2008 (over 1,500 substantive comments were 
collected). Additionally, numerous coordination meetings were conducted 
with local agencies and partner organizations. An update on the 
evolving preferred alternative was provided to the public in the 
summer, 2009.
    Proposal and Alternatives: As noted, the Draft GMP/EIS describes 
and analyzes four alternatives. The no-action alternative consists of 
the existing park management and serves as a basis for comparison in 
evaluating the other alternatives.
    Alternative 1, ``Connecting People with the Parks,'' would further 
the founding idea of ``parks to the people'' and would engage the 
community and other visitors in the enjoyment, understanding, and 
stewardship of the park's resources and values. Park management would 
focus on ways to attract and welcome people, connect people with the 
resources, and promote understanding, enjoyment, preservation, and 
health. Alternative 1 is the ``agency-preferred'' alternative for 
managing most park lands in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo 
Counties.
    Alternative 2, ``Preserving and Enjoying Coastal Ecosystems,'' 
would place an emphasis on preserving, enhancing, and promoting the 
dynamic and interconnected coastal ecosystems in which marine resources 
are valued and prominently featured. Recreational and educational 
opportunities would allow visitors to learn about and enjoy the ocean 
and bay environments, and gain a better understanding of the region's 
international significance and history.
    Alternative 3, ``Focusing on National Treasures,'' would place an 
emphasis on the park's nationally important natural and cultural 
resources. The fundamental resources of each showcased site would be 
managed at the highest level of preservation to protect the resources 
in perpetuity and to promote appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment 
of those resources. Visitors would have the opportunity to explore 
locally the wide variety of experiences that are associated with many 
different types of units of the National Park System. All other 
resources would be managed to complement the nationally significant 
resources and associated visitor experiences. Alternative 3 is the 
``agency-preferred'' alternative for Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods 
National Monument.
    As presented in the Draft EIS/GMP, Alternative 1 is the 
``environmentally preferred'' course of action for lands in Marin, San 
Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. Alternative 3 is ``environmentally 
preferred'' for Muir Woods NM and Alcatraz Island.

[[Page 56221]]

    Comments: Park stakeholders, interested organizations, and the 
public are encouraged to provide written comments on issues and 
concerns addressed in the Draft EIS/GMP, suggest refinements in 
alternatives, and provide information about potential environmental 
effects and appropriate mitigation measures that would reduce potential 
impacts. To afford a timely opportunity to obtain information, several 
public meetings will be hosted (dates and locations of the meetings 
will be announced on the project Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov/goga, via local and regional press media, and in a mailed announcement 
to be distributed to the GMP mailing list. All written comments must be 
postmarked or transmitted not later than 60 days after publication of 
the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of filing in the Federal 
Register--as soon as this ending date is confirmed it will be announced 
on the project Web site and via local and regional press media.
    An electronic version of the Draft EIS/GMP will be available for 
public review on the project Web site, and a limited number of CDs and 
printed copies will be made available at park headquarters. Printed or 
CD copies may also be requested by contacting Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, CA 94123; 
telephone (415) 561-4930.
    Persons wishing to comment on the Draft GMP/EIS may respond by any 
one of several methods. Comments may be transmitted electronically via 
the project Web site; or mailed to Golden Gate National Recreation 
Area, Attention: DGMP/EIS, at the address listed above; or presented in 
person at public meetings or hand-delivered at the above address. 
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware 
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    Decision Process: Availability of the Draft EIS/GMP for a 60-day 
public review will be formally announced through publication of this 
Notice of Availability, through local and regional news media, via the 
project Web site, and direct mailing to the project mailing list. 
Following due consideration of all public and agency comments, a Final 
EIS/GMP will be prepared. As a delegated EIS the official responsible 
for approval of the GMP is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region. 
Subsequently the official responsible for implementing the new GMP 
would be the General Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation 
Area.

    Dated: March 18, 2011.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director. Pacific West Region.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register September 6, 2011.

[FR Doc. 2011-23162 Filed 9-9-11; 8:45 am]
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